diff --git a/sphinx/builders/__init__.py b/sphinx/builders/__init__.py
index 93e256ebd80..4cdd748ebb7 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/__init__.py
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ def get_asset_paths(self) -> List[str]:
     def post_process_images(self, doctree: Node) -> None:
         """Pick the best candidate for all image URIs."""
         images = ImageAdapter(self.env)
-        for node in doctree.traverse(nodes.image):
+        for node in doctree.findall(nodes.image):
             if '?' in node['candidates']:
                 # don't rewrite nonlocal image URIs
                 continue
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/_epub_base.py b/sphinx/builders/_epub_base.py
index ab4eda4dde5..45368797848 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/_epub_base.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/_epub_base.py
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ def update_node_id(node: Element) -> None:
                     new_ids.append(new_id)
             node['ids'] = new_ids
 
-        for reference in tree.traverse(nodes.reference):
+        for reference in tree.findall(nodes.reference):
             if 'refuri' in reference:
                 m = self.refuri_re.match(reference['refuri'])
                 if m:
@@ -285,14 +285,14 @@ def update_node_id(node: Element) -> None:
             if 'refid' in reference:
                 reference['refid'] = self.fix_fragment('', reference['refid'])
 
-        for target in tree.traverse(nodes.target):
+        for target in tree.findall(nodes.target):
             update_node_id(target)
 
             next_node: Node = target.next_node(ascend=True)
             if isinstance(next_node, nodes.Element):
                 update_node_id(next_node)
 
-        for desc_signature in tree.traverse(addnodes.desc_signature):
+        for desc_signature in tree.findall(addnodes.desc_signature):
             update_node_id(desc_signature)
 
     def add_visible_links(self, tree: nodes.document, show_urls: str = 'inline') -> None:
@@ -323,14 +323,14 @@ def footnote_spot(tree: nodes.document) -> Tuple[Element, int]:
             # a) place them after the last existing footnote
             # b) place them after an (empty) Footnotes rubric
             # c) create an empty Footnotes rubric at the end of the document
-            fns = list(tree.traverse(nodes.footnote))
+            fns = list(tree.findall(nodes.footnote))
             if fns:
                 fn = fns[-1]
                 return fn.parent, fn.parent.index(fn) + 1
-            for node in tree.traverse(nodes.rubric):
+            for node in tree.findall(nodes.rubric):
                 if len(node) == 1 and node.astext() == FOOTNOTES_RUBRIC_NAME:
                     return node.parent, node.parent.index(node) + 1
-            doc = list(tree.traverse(nodes.document))[0]
+            doc = next(tree.findall(nodes.document))
             rub = nodes.rubric()
             rub.append(nodes.Text(FOOTNOTES_RUBRIC_NAME))
             doc.append(rub)
@@ -339,10 +339,10 @@ def footnote_spot(tree: nodes.document) -> Tuple[Element, int]:
         if show_urls == 'no':
             return
         if show_urls == 'footnote':
-            doc = list(tree.traverse(nodes.document))[0]
+            doc = next(tree.findall(nodes.document))
             fn_spot, fn_idx = footnote_spot(tree)
             nr = 1
-        for node in list(tree.traverse(nodes.reference)):
+        for node in list(tree.findall(nodes.reference)):
             uri = node.get('refuri', '')
             if (uri.startswith('http:') or uri.startswith('https:') or
                     uri.startswith('ftp:')) and uri not in node.astext():
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/gettext.py b/sphinx/builders/gettext.py
index 53660aa5a87..58d36cdab97 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/gettext.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/gettext.py
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ def compile_catalogs(self, catalogs: Set[CatalogInfo], message: str) -> None:
     def write_doc(self, docname: str, doctree: nodes.document) -> None:
         catalog = self.catalogs[docname_to_domain(docname, self.config.gettext_compact)]
 
-        for toctree in self.env.tocs[docname].traverse(addnodes.toctree):
+        for toctree in self.env.tocs[docname].findall(addnodes.toctree):
             for node, msg in extract_messages(toctree):
                 node.uid = ''  # type: ignore  # Hack UUID model
                 catalog.add(msg, node)
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/html/__init__.py b/sphinx/builders/html/__init__.py
index 4e12a172076..ac1fbbaec9d 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/html/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/html/__init__.py
@@ -866,7 +866,7 @@ def post_process_images(self, doctree: Node) -> None:
         Builder.post_process_images(self, doctree)
 
         if self.config.html_scaled_image_link and self.html_scaled_image_link:
-            for node in doctree.traverse(nodes.image):
+            for node in doctree.findall(nodes.image):
                 if not any((key in node) for key in ['scale', 'width', 'height']):
                     # resizing options are not given. scaled image link is available
                     # only for resized images.
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/html/transforms.py b/sphinx/builders/html/transforms.py
index 8c50ce0c4a0..ea1d69d12c3 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/html/transforms.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/html/transforms.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class KeyboardTransform(SphinxPostTransform):
 
     def run(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         matcher = NodeMatcher(nodes.literal, classes=["kbd"])
-        for node in self.document.traverse(matcher):  # type: nodes.literal
+        for node in self.document.findall(matcher):  # type: nodes.literal
             parts = self.pattern.split(node[-1].astext())
             if len(parts) == 1 or self.is_multiwords_key(parts):
                 continue
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/latex/__init__.py b/sphinx/builders/latex/__init__.py
index aa707bd5b2f..d7156b796b8 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/latex/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/latex/__init__.py
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ def write(self, *ignored: Any) -> None:
                                            encoding='utf-8', overwrite_if_changed=True)
             with progress_message(__("processing %s") % targetname):
                 doctree = self.env.get_doctree(docname)
-                toctree = next(iter(doctree.traverse(addnodes.toctree)), None)
+                toctree = next(doctree.findall(addnodes.toctree), None)
                 if toctree and toctree.get('maxdepth') > 0:
                     tocdepth = toctree.get('maxdepth')
                 else:
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ def write(self, *ignored: Any) -> None:
     def get_contentsname(self, indexfile: str) -> str:
         tree = self.env.get_doctree(indexfile)
         contentsname = None
-        for toctree in tree.traverse(addnodes.toctree):
+        for toctree in tree.findall(addnodes.toctree):
             if 'caption' in toctree:
                 contentsname = toctree['caption']
                 break
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ def assemble_doctree(self, indexfile: str, toctree_only: bool, appendices: List[
             new_sect += nodes.title('<Set title in conf.py>',
                                     '<Set title in conf.py>')
             new_tree += new_sect
-            for node in tree.traverse(addnodes.toctree):
+            for node in tree.findall(addnodes.toctree):
                 new_sect += node
             tree = new_tree
         largetree = inline_all_toctrees(self, self.docnames, indexfile, tree,
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ def assemble_doctree(self, indexfile: str, toctree_only: bool, appendices: List[
         self.env.resolve_references(largetree, indexfile, self)
         # resolve :ref:s to distant tex files -- we can't add a cross-reference,
         # but append the document name
-        for pendingnode in largetree.traverse(addnodes.pending_xref):
+        for pendingnode in largetree.findall(addnodes.pending_xref):
             docname = pendingnode['refdocname']
             sectname = pendingnode['refsectname']
             newnodes: List[Node] = [nodes.emphasis(sectname, sectname)]
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/latex/transforms.py b/sphinx/builders/latex/transforms.py
index 343c36cea2b..b12882df68e 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/latex/transforms.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/latex/transforms.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class FootnoteDocnameUpdater(SphinxTransform):
 
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         matcher = NodeMatcher(*self.TARGET_NODES)
-        for node in self.document.traverse(matcher):  # type: Element
+        for node in self.document.findall(matcher):  # type: Element
             node['docname'] = self.env.docname
 
 
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class SubstitutionDefinitionsRemover(SphinxPostTransform):
     formats = ('latex',)
 
     def run(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        for node in list(self.document.traverse(nodes.substitution_definition)):
+        for node in list(self.document.findall(nodes.substitution_definition)):
             node.parent.remove(node)
 
 
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ def expand_show_urls(self) -> None:
         if show_urls is False or show_urls == 'no':
             return
 
-        for node in list(self.document.traverse(nodes.reference)):
+        for node in list(self.document.findall(nodes.reference)):
             uri = node.get('refuri', '')
             if uri.startswith(URI_SCHEMES):
                 if uri.startswith('mailto:'):
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ class LaTeXFootnoteTransform(SphinxPostTransform):
     formats = ('latex',)
 
     def run(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        footnotes = list(self.document.traverse(nodes.footnote))
+        footnotes = list(self.document.findall(nodes.footnote))
         for node in footnotes:
             node.parent.remove(node)
 
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ def depart_thead(self, node: nodes.thead) -> None:
         self.unrestrict(node)
 
     def depart_table(self, node: nodes.table) -> None:
-        tbody = list(node.traverse(nodes.tbody))[0]
+        tbody = next(node.findall(nodes.tbody))
         for footnote in reversed(self.table_footnotes):
             fntext = footnotetext('', *footnote.children, ids=footnote['ids'])
             tbody.insert(0, fntext)
@@ -501,7 +501,7 @@ class BibliographyTransform(SphinxPostTransform):
 
     def run(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         citations = thebibliography()
-        for node in list(self.document.traverse(nodes.citation)):
+        for node in list(self.document.findall(nodes.citation)):
             node.parent.remove(node)
             citations += node
 
@@ -521,7 +521,7 @@ class CitationReferenceTransform(SphinxPostTransform):
     def run(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         domain = cast(CitationDomain, self.env.get_domain('citation'))
         matcher = NodeMatcher(addnodes.pending_xref, refdomain='citation', reftype='ref')
-        for node in self.document.traverse(matcher):  # type: addnodes.pending_xref
+        for node in self.document.findall(matcher):  # type: addnodes.pending_xref
             docname, labelid, _ = domain.citations.get(node['reftarget'], ('', '', 0))
             if docname:
                 citation_ref = nodes.citation_reference('', '', *node.children,
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ class MathReferenceTransform(SphinxPostTransform):
 
     def run(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         equations = self.env.get_domain('math').data['objects']
-        for node in self.document.traverse(addnodes.pending_xref):
+        for node in self.document.findall(addnodes.pending_xref):
             if node['refdomain'] == 'math' and node['reftype'] in ('eq', 'numref'):
                 docname, _ = equations.get(node['reftarget'], (None, None))
                 if docname:
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ class LiteralBlockTransform(SphinxPostTransform):
 
     def run(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         matcher = NodeMatcher(nodes.container, literal_block=True)
-        for node in self.document.traverse(matcher):  # type: nodes.container
+        for node in self.document.findall(matcher):  # type: nodes.container
             newnode = captioned_literal_block('', *node.children, **node.attributes)
             node.replace_self(newnode)
 
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ class DocumentTargetTransform(SphinxPostTransform):
     formats = ('latex',)
 
     def run(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        for node in self.document.traverse(addnodes.start_of_file):
+        for node in self.document.findall(addnodes.start_of_file):
             section = node.next_node(nodes.section)
             if section:
                 section['ids'].append(':doc')  # special label for :doc:
@@ -602,9 +602,9 @@ class IndexInSectionTitleTransform(SphinxPostTransform):
     formats = ('latex',)
 
     def run(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        for node in list(self.document.traverse(nodes.title)):
+        for node in list(self.document.findall(nodes.title)):
             if isinstance(node.parent, nodes.section):
-                for i, index in enumerate(list(node.traverse(addnodes.index))):
+                for i, index in enumerate(node.findall(addnodes.index)):
                     # move the index node next to the section title
                     node.remove(index)
                     node.parent.insert(i + 1, index)
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/linkcheck.py b/sphinx/builders/linkcheck.py
index 1f9d601e413..61b6b45f954 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/linkcheck.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/linkcheck.py
@@ -650,7 +650,7 @@ def run(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         hyperlinks = builder.hyperlinks
 
         # reference nodes
-        for refnode in self.document.traverse(nodes.reference):
+        for refnode in self.document.findall(nodes.reference):
             if 'refuri' not in refnode:
                 continue
             uri = refnode['refuri']
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ def run(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
                 hyperlinks[uri] = uri_info
 
         # image nodes
-        for imgnode in self.document.traverse(nodes.image):
+        for imgnode in self.document.findall(nodes.image):
             uri = imgnode['candidates'].get('?')
             if uri and '://' in uri:
                 newuri = self.app.emit_firstresult('linkcheck-process-uri', uri)
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/manpage.py b/sphinx/builders/manpage.py
index 88c2c9db57e..c942cfa8666 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/manpage.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/manpage.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ def write(self, *ignored: Any) -> None:
             logger.info('} ', nonl=True)
             self.env.resolve_references(largetree, docname, self)
             # remove pending_xref nodes
-            for pendingnode in largetree.traverse(addnodes.pending_xref):
+            for pendingnode in largetree.findall(addnodes.pending_xref):
                 pendingnode.replace_self(pendingnode.children)
 
             docwriter.write(largetree, destination)
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/singlehtml.py b/sphinx/builders/singlehtml.py
index 344e062b98a..09db8d2b933 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/singlehtml.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/singlehtml.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def get_relative_uri(self, from_: str, to: str, typ: str = None) -> str:
     def fix_refuris(self, tree: Node) -> None:
         # fix refuris with double anchor
         fname = self.config.root_doc + self.out_suffix
-        for refnode in tree.traverse(nodes.reference):
+        for refnode in tree.findall(nodes.reference):
             if 'refuri' not in refnode:
                 continue
             refuri = refnode['refuri']
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/texinfo.py b/sphinx/builders/texinfo.py
index 4a2c58143f7..f07cd2516c8 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/texinfo.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/texinfo.py
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ def assemble_doctree(self, indexfile: str, toctree_only: bool, appendices: List[
             new_sect += nodes.title('<Set title in conf.py>',
                                     '<Set title in conf.py>')
             new_tree += new_sect
-            for node in tree.traverse(addnodes.toctree):
+            for node in tree.findall(addnodes.toctree):
                 new_sect += node
             tree = new_tree
         largetree = inline_all_toctrees(self, self.docnames, indexfile, tree,
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ def assemble_doctree(self, indexfile: str, toctree_only: bool, appendices: List[
         logger.info(__("resolving references..."))
         self.env.resolve_references(largetree, indexfile, self)
         # TODO: add support for external :ref:s
-        for pendingnode in largetree.traverse(addnodes.pending_xref):
+        for pendingnode in largetree.findall(addnodes.pending_xref):
             docname = pendingnode['refdocname']
             sectname = pendingnode['refsectname']
             newnodes: List[Node] = [nodes.emphasis(sectname, sectname)]
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/xml.py b/sphinx/builders/xml.py
index 9dd3afb544e..fdef142596b 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/xml.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/xml.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ def write_doc(self, docname: str, doctree: Node) -> None:
         # work around multiple string % tuple issues in docutils;
         # replace tuples in attribute values with lists
         doctree = doctree.deepcopy()
-        for node in doctree.traverse(nodes.Element):
+        for node in doctree.findall(nodes.Element):
             for att, value in node.attributes.items():
                 if isinstance(value, tuple):
                     node.attributes[att] = list(value)
diff --git a/sphinx/directives/patches.py b/sphinx/directives/patches.py
index 5308b283887..d4d498725c4 100644
--- a/sphinx/directives/patches.py
+++ b/sphinx/directives/patches.py
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ def run(self) -> List[Node]:
                 # docutils' meta nodes aren't picklable because the class is nested
                 meta.__class__ = addnodes.meta
 
-        return result
+        return result  # type: ignore
 
 
 class RSTTable(tables.RSTTable):
diff --git a/sphinx/domains/c.py b/sphinx/domains/c.py
index 196937692be..6ed4f155994 100644
--- a/sphinx/domains/c.py
+++ b/sphinx/domains/c.py
@@ -3556,7 +3556,7 @@ def _render_symbol(self, s: Symbol, maxdepth: int, skipThis: bool,
         return nodes
 
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        for node in self.document.traverse(AliasNode):
+        for node in self.document.findall(AliasNode):
             node = cast(AliasNode, node)
             sig = node.sig
             parentKey = node.parentKey
diff --git a/sphinx/domains/citation.py b/sphinx/domains/citation.py
index ca3d6082ebd..f68d324bf63 100644
--- a/sphinx/domains/citation.py
+++ b/sphinx/domains/citation.py
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ class CitationDefinitionTransform(SphinxTransform):
 
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         domain = cast(CitationDomain, self.env.get_domain('citation'))
-        for node in self.document.traverse(nodes.citation):
+        for node in self.document.findall(nodes.citation):
             # register citation node to domain
             node['docname'] = self.env.docname
             domain.note_citation(node)
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ class CitationReferenceTransform(SphinxTransform):
 
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         domain = cast(CitationDomain, self.env.get_domain('citation'))
-        for node in self.document.traverse(nodes.citation_reference):
+        for node in self.document.findall(nodes.citation_reference):
             target = node.astext()
             ref = pending_xref(target, refdomain='citation', reftype='ref',
                                reftarget=target, refwarn=True,
diff --git a/sphinx/domains/cpp.py b/sphinx/domains/cpp.py
index 8733a19cff1..c8625e81d76 100644
--- a/sphinx/domains/cpp.py
+++ b/sphinx/domains/cpp.py
@@ -7459,7 +7459,7 @@ def _render_symbol(self, s: Symbol, maxdepth: int, skipThis: bool,
         return nodes
 
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        for node in self.document.traverse(AliasNode):
+        for node in self.document.findall(AliasNode):
             node = cast(AliasNode, node)
             sig = node.sig
             parentKey = node.parentKey
diff --git a/sphinx/domains/index.py b/sphinx/domains/index.py
index 975992b8397..7dbc1bb5aaf 100644
--- a/sphinx/domains/index.py
+++ b/sphinx/domains/index.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def merge_domaindata(self, docnames: Iterable[str], otherdata: Dict) -> None:
     def process_doc(self, env: BuildEnvironment, docname: str, document: Node) -> None:
         """Process a document after it is read by the environment."""
         entries = self.entries.setdefault(env.docname, [])
-        for node in list(document.traverse(addnodes.index)):
+        for node in list(document.findall(addnodes.index)):
             try:
                 for entry in node['entries']:
                     split_index_msg(entry[0], entry[1])
diff --git a/sphinx/domains/math.py b/sphinx/domains/math.py
index ebc4da371e2..78b7784a79d 100644
--- a/sphinx/domains/math.py
+++ b/sphinx/domains/math.py
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ def process_doc(self, env: BuildEnvironment, docname: str,
         def math_node(node: Node) -> bool:
             return isinstance(node, (nodes.math, nodes.math_block))
 
-        self.data['has_equations'][docname] = any(document.traverse(math_node))
+        self.data['has_equations'][docname] = any(document.findall(math_node))
 
     def clear_doc(self, docname: str) -> None:
         for equation_id, (doc, eqno) in list(self.equations.items()):
diff --git a/sphinx/domains/std.py b/sphinx/domains/std.py
index bd02f1c76dc..11a95e13b1e 100644
--- a/sphinx/domains/std.py
+++ b/sphinx/domains/std.py
@@ -776,7 +776,7 @@ def process_doc(self, env: "BuildEnvironment", docname: str, document: nodes.doc
             elif self.is_enumerable_node(node):
                 sectname = self.get_numfig_title(node)
             else:
-                toctree = next(iter(node.traverse(addnodes.toctree)), None)
+                toctree = next(node.findall(addnodes.toctree), None)
                 if toctree and toctree.get('caption'):
                     sectname = toctree.get('caption')
                 else:
diff --git a/sphinx/environment/__init__.py b/sphinx/environment/__init__.py
index 0f7dbd8c706..9dde7b407d8 100644
--- a/sphinx/environment/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/environment/__init__.py
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ def get_and_resolve_doctree(self, docname: str, builder: "Builder",
         self.apply_post_transforms(doctree, docname)
 
         # now, resolve all toctree nodes
-        for toctreenode in doctree.traverse(addnodes.toctree):
+        for toctreenode in doctree.findall(addnodes.toctree):
             result = TocTree(self).resolve(docname, builder, toctreenode,
                                            prune=prune_toctrees,
                                            includehidden=includehidden)
diff --git a/sphinx/environment/adapters/toctree.py b/sphinx/environment/adapters/toctree.py
index 5a9e26d6d5f..962e731435a 100644
--- a/sphinx/environment/adapters/toctree.py
+++ b/sphinx/environment/adapters/toctree.py
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ def _entries_from_toctree(toctreenode: addnodes.toctree, parents: List[str],
                         process_only_nodes(toc, builder.tags)
                         if title and toc.children and len(toc.children) == 1:
                             child = toc.children[0]
-                            for refnode in child.traverse(nodes.reference):
+                            for refnode in child.findall(nodes.reference):
                                 if refnode['refuri'] == ref and \
                                    not refnode['anchorname']:
                                     refnode.children = [nodes.Text(title)]
@@ -193,13 +193,13 @@ def _entries_from_toctree(toctreenode: addnodes.toctree, parents: List[str],
                         for toplevel in children:
                             # nodes with length 1 don't have any children anyway
                             if len(toplevel) > 1:
-                                subtrees = list(toplevel.traverse(addnodes.toctree))
+                                subtrees = list(toplevel.findall(addnodes.toctree))
                                 if subtrees:
                                     toplevel[1][:] = subtrees  # type: ignore
                                 else:
                                     toplevel.pop(1)
                     # resolve all sub-toctrees
-                    for subtocnode in list(toc.traverse(addnodes.toctree)):
+                    for subtocnode in list(toc.findall(addnodes.toctree)):
                         if not (subtocnode.get('hidden', False) and
                                 not includehidden):
                             i = subtocnode.parent.index(subtocnode) + 1
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ def _entries_from_toctree(toctreenode: addnodes.toctree, parents: List[str],
 
         # set the target paths in the toctrees (they are not known at TOC
         # generation time)
-        for refnode in newnode.traverse(nodes.reference):
+        for refnode in newnode.findall(nodes.reference):
             if not url_re.match(refnode['refuri']):
                 refnode['refuri'] = builder.get_relative_uri(
                     docname, refnode['refuri']) + refnode['anchorname']
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ def get_toc_for(self, docname: str, builder: "Builder") -> Node:
             # renders to nothing
             return nodes.paragraph()
         process_only_nodes(toc, builder.tags)
-        for node in toc.traverse(nodes.reference):
+        for node in toc.findall(nodes.reference):
             node['refuri'] = node['anchorname'] or '#'
         return toc
 
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ def get_toctree_for(self, docname: str, builder: "Builder", collapse: bool,
         else:
             kwargs['maxdepth'] = int(kwargs['maxdepth'])
         kwargs['collapse'] = collapse
-        for toctreenode in doctree.traverse(addnodes.toctree):
+        for toctreenode in doctree.findall(addnodes.toctree):
             toctree = self.resolve(docname, builder, toctreenode, prune=True, **kwargs)
             if toctree:
                 toctrees.append(toctree)
diff --git a/sphinx/environment/collectors/asset.py b/sphinx/environment/collectors/asset.py
index 44a1248ccc1..9530b3bd94d 100644
--- a/sphinx/environment/collectors/asset.py
+++ b/sphinx/environment/collectors/asset.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def process_doc(self, app: Sphinx, doctree: nodes.document) -> None:
         """Process and rewrite image URIs."""
         docname = app.env.docname
 
-        for node in doctree.traverse(nodes.image):
+        for node in doctree.findall(nodes.image):
             # Map the mimetype to the corresponding image.  The writer may
             # choose the best image from these candidates.  The special key * is
             # set if there is only single candidate to be used by a writer.
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def merge_other(self, app: Sphinx, env: BuildEnvironment,
 
     def process_doc(self, app: Sphinx, doctree: nodes.document) -> None:
         """Process downloadable file paths. """
-        for node in doctree.traverse(addnodes.download_reference):
+        for node in doctree.findall(addnodes.download_reference):
             targetname = node['reftarget']
             if '://' in targetname:
                 node['refuri'] = targetname
diff --git a/sphinx/environment/collectors/title.py b/sphinx/environment/collectors/title.py
index f522231c838..8c285f3239c 100644
--- a/sphinx/environment/collectors/title.py
+++ b/sphinx/environment/collectors/title.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def process_doc(self, app: Sphinx, doctree: nodes.document) -> None:
             longtitlenode = nodes.title()
             longtitlenode += nodes.Text(doctree['title'])
         # look for first section title and use that as the title
-        for node in doctree.traverse(nodes.section):
+        for node in doctree.findall(nodes.section):
             visitor = SphinxContentsFilter(doctree)
             node[0].walkabout(visitor)
             titlenode += visitor.get_entry_text()
diff --git a/sphinx/environment/collectors/toctree.py b/sphinx/environment/collectors/toctree.py
index 03270336585..250e16aa22d 100644
--- a/sphinx/environment/collectors/toctree.py
+++ b/sphinx/environment/collectors/toctree.py
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ def _walk_toctree(toctreenode: addnodes.toctree, depth: int) -> None:
         for docname in env.numbered_toctrees:
             assigned.add(docname)
             doctree = env.get_doctree(docname)
-            for toctreenode in doctree.traverse(addnodes.toctree):
+            for toctreenode in doctree.findall(addnodes.toctree):
                 depth = toctreenode.get('numbered', 0)
                 if depth:
                     # every numbered toctree gets new numbering
diff --git a/sphinx/ext/autosectionlabel.py b/sphinx/ext/autosectionlabel.py
index 0fe1857e2d0..e8efcb076c3 100644
--- a/sphinx/ext/autosectionlabel.py
+++ b/sphinx/ext/autosectionlabel.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def get_node_depth(node: Node) -> int:
 
 def register_sections_as_label(app: Sphinx, document: Node) -> None:
     domain = cast(StandardDomain, app.env.get_domain('std'))
-    for node in document.traverse(nodes.section):
+    for node in document.findall(nodes.section):
         if (app.config.autosectionlabel_maxdepth and
                 get_node_depth(node) >= app.config.autosectionlabel_maxdepth):
             continue
diff --git a/sphinx/ext/autosummary/__init__.py b/sphinx/ext/autosummary/__init__.py
index e3a04d3c76d..36dc230193e 100644
--- a/sphinx/ext/autosummary/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/ext/autosummary/__init__.py
@@ -587,7 +587,7 @@ def parse(doc: List[str], settings: Any) -> nodes.document:
                 node = parse(doc, document.settings)
                 if summary.endswith(WELL_KNOWN_ABBREVIATIONS):
                     pass
-                elif not list(node.traverse(nodes.system_message)):
+                elif not any(node.findall(nodes.system_message)):
                     # considered as that splitting by period does not break inline markups
                     break
 
diff --git a/sphinx/ext/doctest.py b/sphinx/ext/doctest.py
index 990bf33efc4..490516d63f5 100644
--- a/sphinx/ext/doctest.py
+++ b/sphinx/ext/doctest.py
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ def condition(node: Node) -> bool:
             def condition(node: Node) -> bool:
                 return isinstance(node, (nodes.literal_block, nodes.comment)) \
                     and 'testnodetype' in node
-        for node in doctree.traverse(condition):  # type: Element
+        for node in doctree.findall(condition):  # type: Element
             if self.skipped(node):
                 continue
 
diff --git a/sphinx/ext/extlinks.py b/sphinx/ext/extlinks.py
index 1ca428cc051..eb5c474d504 100644
--- a/sphinx/ext/extlinks.py
+++ b/sphinx/ext/extlinks.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class ExternalLinksChecker(SphinxPostTransform):
     default_priority = 500
 
     def run(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        for refnode in self.document.traverse(nodes.reference):
+        for refnode in self.document.findall(nodes.reference):
             self.check_uri(refnode)
 
     def check_uri(self, refnode: nodes.reference) -> None:
diff --git a/sphinx/ext/ifconfig.py b/sphinx/ext/ifconfig.py
index f14300838a6..50a2b203f82 100644
--- a/sphinx/ext/ifconfig.py
+++ b/sphinx/ext/ifconfig.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def process_ifconfig_nodes(app: Sphinx, doctree: nodes.document, docname: str) -
     ns = {confval.name: confval.value for confval in app.config}
     ns.update(app.config.__dict__.copy())
     ns['builder'] = app.builder.name
-    for node in doctree.traverse(ifconfig):
+    for node in doctree.findall(ifconfig):
         try:
             res = eval(node['expr'], ns)
         except Exception as err:
diff --git a/sphinx/ext/linkcode.py b/sphinx/ext/linkcode.py
index b9c165ca497..6ae8284084d 100644
--- a/sphinx/ext/linkcode.py
+++ b/sphinx/ext/linkcode.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ def doctree_read(app: Sphinx, doctree: Node) -> None:
         'js': ['object', 'fullname'],
     }
 
-    for objnode in list(doctree.traverse(addnodes.desc)):
+    for objnode in list(doctree.findall(addnodes.desc)):
         domain = objnode.get('domain')
         uris: Set[str] = set()
         for signode in objnode:
diff --git a/sphinx/ext/todo.py b/sphinx/ext/todo.py
index dd743402235..3b8ba19247f 100644
--- a/sphinx/ext/todo.py
+++ b/sphinx/ext/todo.py
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ def merge_domaindata(self, docnames: List[str], otherdata: Dict) -> None:
     def process_doc(self, env: BuildEnvironment, docname: str,
                     document: nodes.document) -> None:
         todos = self.todos.setdefault(docname, [])
-        for todo in document.traverse(todo_node):
+        for todo in document.findall(todo_node):
             env.app.emit('todo-defined', todo)
             todos.append(todo)
 
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ def __init__(self, app: Sphinx, doctree: nodes.document, docname: str) -> None:
 
     def process(self, doctree: nodes.document, docname: str) -> None:
         todos: List[todo_node] = sum(self.domain.todos.values(), [])
-        for node in list(doctree.traverse(todolist)):
+        for node in list(doctree.findall(todolist)):
             if not self.config.todo_include_todos:
                 node.parent.remove(node)
                 continue
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ def create_todo_reference(self, todo: todo_node, docname: str) -> nodes.paragrap
 
     def resolve_reference(self, todo: todo_node, docname: str) -> None:
         """Resolve references in the todo content."""
-        for node in todo.traverse(addnodes.pending_xref):
+        for node in todo.findall(addnodes.pending_xref):
             if 'refdoc' in node:
                 node['refdoc'] = docname
 
diff --git a/sphinx/ext/viewcode.py b/sphinx/ext/viewcode.py
index d7eb33fc608..54274ac04a2 100644
--- a/sphinx/ext/viewcode.py
+++ b/sphinx/ext/viewcode.py
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ def has_tag(modname: str, fullname: str, docname: str, refname: str) -> bool:
 
         return False
 
-    for objnode in list(doctree.traverse(addnodes.desc)):
+    for objnode in list(doctree.findall(addnodes.desc)):
         if objnode.get('domain') != 'py':
             continue
         names: Set[str] = set()
@@ -184,14 +184,14 @@ def run(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
             self.remove_viewcode_anchors()
 
     def convert_viewcode_anchors(self) -> None:
-        for node in self.document.traverse(viewcode_anchor):
+        for node in self.document.findall(viewcode_anchor):
             anchor = nodes.inline('', _('[source]'), classes=['viewcode-link'])
             refnode = make_refnode(self.app.builder, node['refdoc'], node['reftarget'],
                                    node['refid'], anchor)
             node.replace_self(refnode)
 
     def remove_viewcode_anchors(self) -> None:
-        for node in list(self.document.traverse(viewcode_anchor)):
+        for node in list(self.document.findall(viewcode_anchor)):
             node.parent.remove(node)
 
 
diff --git a/sphinx/transforms/__init__.py b/sphinx/transforms/__init__.py
index e122a69b43f..f1359dfadc4 100644
--- a/sphinx/transforms/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/transforms/__init__.py
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ class DefaultSubstitutions(SphinxTransform):
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         # only handle those not otherwise defined in the document
         to_handle = default_substitutions - set(self.document.substitution_defs)
-        for ref in self.document.traverse(nodes.substitution_reference):
+        for ref in self.document.findall(nodes.substitution_reference):
             refname = ref['refname']
             if refname in to_handle:
                 text = self.config[refname]
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ class MoveModuleTargets(SphinxTransform):
     default_priority = 210
 
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        for node in list(self.document.traverse(nodes.target)):
+        for node in list(self.document.findall(nodes.target)):
             if not node['ids']:
                 continue
             if ('ismod' in node and
@@ -147,12 +147,12 @@ class HandleCodeBlocks(SphinxTransform):
 
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         # move doctest blocks out of blockquotes
-        for node in self.document.traverse(nodes.block_quote):
+        for node in self.document.findall(nodes.block_quote):
             if all(isinstance(child, nodes.doctest_block) for child
                    in node.children):
                 node.replace_self(node.children)
         # combine successive doctest blocks
-        # for node in self.document.traverse(nodes.doctest_block):
+        # for node in self.document.findall(nodes.doctest_block):
         #    if node not in node.parent.children:
         #        continue
         #    parindex = node.parent.index(node)
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ class AutoNumbering(SphinxTransform):
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         domain: StandardDomain = self.env.get_domain('std')
 
-        for node in self.document.traverse(nodes.Element):
+        for node in self.document.findall(nodes.Element):
             if (domain.is_enumerable_node(node) and
                     domain.get_numfig_title(node) is not None and
                     node['ids'] == []):
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ class SortIds(SphinxTransform):
     default_priority = 261
 
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        for node in self.document.traverse(nodes.section):
+        for node in self.document.findall(nodes.section):
             if len(node['ids']) > 1 and node['ids'][0].startswith('id'):
                 node['ids'] = node['ids'][1:] + [node['ids'][0]]
 
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ class ApplySourceWorkaround(SphinxTransform):
     default_priority = 10
 
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        for node in self.document.traverse():  # type: Node
+        for node in self.document.findall():  # type: Node
             if isinstance(node, (nodes.TextElement, nodes.image, nodes.topic)):
                 apply_source_workaround(node)
 
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ class AutoIndexUpgrader(SphinxTransform):
     default_priority = 210
 
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        for node in self.document.traverse(addnodes.index):
+        for node in self.document.findall(addnodes.index):
             if 'entries' in node and any(len(entry) == 4 for entry in node['entries']):
                 msg = __('4 column based index found. '
                          'It might be a bug of extensions you use: %r') % node['entries']
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         def is_translatable_node(node: Node) -> bool:
             return isinstance(node, tuple(target_nodes))
 
-        for node in self.document.traverse(is_translatable_node):  # type: Element
+        for node in self.document.findall(is_translatable_node):  # type: Element
             node['translatable'] = True
 
 
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ class DoctestTransform(SphinxTransform):
     default_priority = 500
 
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        for node in self.document.traverse(nodes.doctest_block):
+        for node in self.document.findall(nodes.doctest_block):
             node['classes'].append('doctest')
 
 
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
 
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         matcher = NodeMatcher(nodes.table, nodes.figure)
-        for node in self.document.traverse(matcher):  # type: Element
+        for node in self.document.findall(matcher):  # type: Element
             node.setdefault('align', 'default')
 
 
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ class FilterSystemMessages(SphinxTransform):
 
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         filterlevel = 2 if self.config.keep_warnings else 5
-        for node in list(self.document.traverse(nodes.system_message)):
+        for node in list(self.document.findall(nodes.system_message)):
             if node['level'] < filterlevel:
                 logger.debug('%s [filtered system message]', node.astext())
                 node.parent.remove(node)
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ class ManpageLink(SphinxTransform):
     default_priority = 999
 
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        for node in self.document.traverse(addnodes.manpage):
+        for node in self.document.findall(addnodes.manpage):
             manpage = ' '.join([str(x) for x in node.children
                                 if isinstance(x, nodes.Text)])
             pattern = r'^(?P<path>(?P<page>.+)[\(\.](?P<section>[1-9]\w*)?\)?)$'  # noqa
diff --git a/sphinx/transforms/compact_bullet_list.py b/sphinx/transforms/compact_bullet_list.py
index b43d0fb3e92..e39ac97d1c7 100644
--- a/sphinx/transforms/compact_bullet_list.py
+++ b/sphinx/transforms/compact_bullet_list.py
@@ -74,9 +74,9 @@ def check_refonly_list(node: Node) -> bool:
             else:
                 return True
 
-        for node in self.document.traverse(nodes.bullet_list):
+        for node in self.document.findall(nodes.bullet_list):
             if check_refonly_list(node):
-                for item in node.traverse(nodes.list_item):
+                for item in node.findall(nodes.list_item):
                     para = cast(nodes.paragraph, item[0])
                     ref = cast(nodes.reference, para[0])
                     compact_para = addnodes.compact_paragraph()
diff --git a/sphinx/transforms/i18n.py b/sphinx/transforms/i18n.py
index 6e75286f869..08dcbe158cc 100644
--- a/sphinx/transforms/i18n.py
+++ b/sphinx/transforms/i18n.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ class PreserveTranslatableMessages(SphinxTransform):
     default_priority = 10  # this MUST be invoked before Locale transform
 
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        for node in self.document.traverse(addnodes.translatable):
+        for node in self.document.findall(addnodes.translatable):
             node.preserve_original_messages()
 
 
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
 
                     # replace target's refname to new target name
                     matcher = NodeMatcher(nodes.target, refname=old_name)
-                    for old_target in self.document.traverse(matcher):  # type: nodes.target
+                    for old_target in self.document.findall(matcher):  # type: nodes.target
                         old_target['refname'] = new_name
 
                     processed = True
@@ -301,8 +301,8 @@ def list_replace_or_append(lst: List[N], old: N, new: N) -> None:
                     lst.append(new)
 
             is_autofootnote_ref = NodeMatcher(nodes.footnote_reference, auto=Any)
-            old_foot_refs: List[nodes.footnote_reference] = list(node.traverse(is_autofootnote_ref))  # NOQA
-            new_foot_refs: List[nodes.footnote_reference] = list(patch.traverse(is_autofootnote_ref))  # NOQA
+            old_foot_refs: List[nodes.footnote_reference] = list(node.findall(is_autofootnote_ref))  # NOQA
+            new_foot_refs: List[nodes.footnote_reference] = list(patch.findall(is_autofootnote_ref))  # NOQA
             if len(old_foot_refs) != len(new_foot_refs):
                 old_foot_ref_rawsources = [ref.rawsource for ref in old_foot_refs]
                 new_foot_ref_rawsources = [ref.rawsource for ref in new_foot_refs]
@@ -344,8 +344,8 @@ def list_replace_or_append(lst: List[N], old: N, new: N) -> None:
             # * use translated refname for section refname.
             # * inline reference "`Python <...>`_" has no 'refname'.
             is_refnamed_ref = NodeMatcher(nodes.reference, refname=Any)
-            old_refs: List[nodes.reference] = list(node.traverse(is_refnamed_ref))
-            new_refs: List[nodes.reference] = list(patch.traverse(is_refnamed_ref))
+            old_refs: List[nodes.reference] = list(node.findall(is_refnamed_ref))
+            new_refs: List[nodes.reference] = list(patch.findall(is_refnamed_ref))
             if len(old_refs) != len(new_refs):
                 old_ref_rawsources = [ref.rawsource for ref in old_refs]
                 new_ref_rawsources = [ref.rawsource for ref in new_refs]
@@ -371,8 +371,8 @@ def list_replace_or_append(lst: List[N], old: N, new: N) -> None:
 
             # refnamed footnote should use original 'ids'.
             is_refnamed_footnote_ref = NodeMatcher(nodes.footnote_reference, refname=Any)
-            old_foot_refs = list(node.traverse(is_refnamed_footnote_ref))
-            new_foot_refs = list(patch.traverse(is_refnamed_footnote_ref))
+            old_foot_refs = list(node.findall(is_refnamed_footnote_ref))
+            new_foot_refs = list(patch.findall(is_refnamed_footnote_ref))
             refname_ids_map: Dict[str, List[str]] = {}
             if len(old_foot_refs) != len(new_foot_refs):
                 old_foot_ref_rawsources = [ref.rawsource for ref in old_foot_refs]
@@ -390,8 +390,8 @@ def list_replace_or_append(lst: List[N], old: N, new: N) -> None:
 
             # citation should use original 'ids'.
             is_citation_ref = NodeMatcher(nodes.citation_reference, refname=Any)
-            old_cite_refs: List[nodes.citation_reference] = list(node.traverse(is_citation_ref))  # NOQA
-            new_cite_refs: List[nodes.citation_reference] = list(patch.traverse(is_citation_ref))  # NOQA
+            old_cite_refs: List[nodes.citation_reference] = list(node.findall(is_citation_ref))
+            new_cite_refs: List[nodes.citation_reference] = list(patch.findall(is_citation_ref))  # NOQA
             refname_ids_map = {}
             if len(old_cite_refs) != len(new_cite_refs):
                 old_cite_ref_rawsources = [ref.rawsource for ref in old_cite_refs]
@@ -410,8 +410,8 @@ def list_replace_or_append(lst: List[N], old: N, new: N) -> None:
             # Original pending_xref['reftarget'] contain not-translated
             # target name, new pending_xref must use original one.
             # This code restricts to change ref-targets in the translation.
-            old_xrefs = list(node.traverse(addnodes.pending_xref))
-            new_xrefs = list(patch.traverse(addnodes.pending_xref))
+            old_xrefs = list(node.findall(addnodes.pending_xref))
+            new_xrefs = list(patch.findall(addnodes.pending_xref))
             xref_reftarget_map = {}
             if len(old_xrefs) != len(new_xrefs):
                 old_xref_rawsources = [xref.rawsource for xref in old_xrefs]
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ def get_ref_key(node: addnodes.pending_xref) -> Optional[Tuple[str, str, str]]:
                 node['entries'] = new_entries
 
         # remove translated attribute that is used for avoiding double translation.
-        for translated in self.document.traverse(NodeMatcher(translated=Any)):  # type: Element  # NOQA
+        for translated in self.document.findall(NodeMatcher(translated=Any)):  # type: Element  # NOQA
             translated.delattr('translated')
 
 
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
             return
 
         matcher = NodeMatcher(nodes.inline, translatable=Any)
-        for inline in list(self.document.traverse(matcher)):  # type: nodes.inline
+        for inline in list(self.document.findall(matcher)):  # type: nodes.inline
             inline.parent.remove(inline)
             inline.parent += inline.children
 
diff --git a/sphinx/transforms/post_transforms/__init__.py b/sphinx/transforms/post_transforms/__init__.py
index 098f004c7fc..df2eeecbb6a 100644
--- a/sphinx/transforms/post_transforms/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/transforms/post_transforms/__init__.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ class ReferencesResolver(SphinxPostTransform):
     default_priority = 10
 
     def run(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        for node in self.document.traverse(addnodes.pending_xref):
+        for node in self.document.findall(addnodes.pending_xref):
             content = self.find_pending_xref_condition(node, ("resolved", "*"))
             if content:
                 contnode = cast(Element, content[0].deepcopy())
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ def has_visitor(translator: Type[nodes.NodeVisitor], node: Type[Element]) -> boo
             self.fallback(addnodes.desc_inline)
 
     def fallback(self, nodeType: Any) -> None:
-        for node in self.document.traverse(nodeType):
+        for node in self.document.findall(nodeType):
             newnode = nodes.inline()
             newnode.update_all_atts(node)
             newnode.extend(node)
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ class PropagateDescDomain(SphinxPostTransform):
     default_priority = 200
 
     def run(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        for node in self.document.traverse(addnodes.desc_signature):
+        for node in self.document.findall(addnodes.desc_signature):
             if node.parent.get('domain'):
                 node['classes'].append(node.parent['domain'])
 
diff --git a/sphinx/transforms/post_transforms/code.py b/sphinx/transforms/post_transforms/code.py
index 5f31a434d4c..55bd56c2efd 100644
--- a/sphinx/transforms/post_transforms/code.py
+++ b/sphinx/transforms/post_transforms/code.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
                                            self.config.highlight_language)
         self.document.walkabout(visitor)
 
-        for node in list(self.document.traverse(addnodes.highlightlang)):
+        for node in list(self.document.findall(addnodes.highlightlang)):
             node.parent.remove(node)
 
 
@@ -94,11 +94,11 @@ class TrimDoctestFlagsTransform(SphinxTransform):
     default_priority = HighlightLanguageTransform.default_priority + 1
 
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        for lbnode in self.document.traverse(nodes.literal_block):  # type: nodes.literal_block
+        for lbnode in self.document.findall(nodes.literal_block):
             if self.is_pyconsole(lbnode):
                 self.strip_doctest_flags(lbnode)
 
-        for dbnode in self.document.traverse(nodes.doctest_block):  # type: nodes.doctest_block
+        for dbnode in self.document.findall(nodes.doctest_block):
             self.strip_doctest_flags(dbnode)
 
     def strip_doctest_flags(self, node: TextElement) -> None:
diff --git a/sphinx/transforms/post_transforms/images.py b/sphinx/transforms/post_transforms/images.py
index d2929dca80f..8e2f9e2fadd 100644
--- a/sphinx/transforms/post_transforms/images.py
+++ b/sphinx/transforms/post_transforms/images.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 
 class BaseImageConverter(SphinxTransform):
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        for node in self.document.traverse(nodes.image):
+        for node in self.document.findall(nodes.image):
             if self.match(node):
                 self.handle(node)
 
diff --git a/sphinx/util/docutils.py b/sphinx/util/docutils.py
index 456fa957644..c3a6ff9e2e9 100644
--- a/sphinx/util/docutils.py
+++ b/sphinx/util/docutils.py
@@ -500,6 +500,16 @@ def unknown_visit(self, node: Node) -> None:
         logger.warning(__('unknown node type: %r'), node, location=node)
 
 
+# Node.findall() is a new interface to traverse a doctree since docutils-0.18.
+# This applies a patch docutils-0.17 or older to be available Node.findall()
+# method to use it from our codebase.
+if __version_info__ < (0, 18):
+    def findall(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        return iter(self.traverse(*args, **kwargs))
+
+    Node.findall = findall  # type: ignore
+
+
 # cache a vanilla instance of nodes.document
 # Used in new_document() function
 __document_cache__: Optional[nodes.document] = None
diff --git a/sphinx/util/nodes.py b/sphinx/util/nodes.py
index b6542f1d36d..c16142a2cd1 100644
--- a/sphinx/util/nodes.py
+++ b/sphinx/util/nodes.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 
 
 class NodeMatcher:
-    """A helper class for Node.traverse().
+    """A helper class for Node.findall().
 
     It checks that the given node is an instance of the specified node-classes and
     has the specified node-attributes.
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class NodeMatcher:
     and ``reftype`` attributes::
 
         matcher = NodeMatcher(nodes.reference, refdomain='std', reftype='citation')
-        doctree.traverse(matcher)
+        doctree.findall(matcher)
         # => [<reference ...>, <reference ...>, ...]
 
     A special value ``typing.Any`` matches any kind of node-attributes.  For example,
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class NodeMatcher:
 
         from typing import Any
         matcher = NodeMatcher(nodes.reference, refdomain=Any)
-        doctree.traverse(matcher)
+        doctree.findall(matcher)
         # => [<reference ...>, <reference ...>, ...]
     """
 
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ def apply_source_workaround(node: Element) -> None:
         logger.debug('[i18n] PATCH: %r to have rawsource: %s',
                      get_full_module_name(node), repr_domxml(node))
         # strip classifier from rawsource of term
-        for classifier in reversed(list(node.parent.traverse(nodes.classifier))):
+        for classifier in reversed(list(node.parent.findall(nodes.classifier))):
             node.rawsource = re.sub(r'\s*:\s*%s' % re.escape(classifier.astext()),
                                     '', node.rawsource)
     if isinstance(node, nodes.topic) and node.source is None:
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ def is_translatable(node: Node) -> bool:
 
 def extract_messages(doctree: Element) -> Iterable[Tuple[Element, str]]:
     """Extract translatable messages from a document tree."""
-    for node in doctree.traverse(is_translatable):  # type: Element
+    for node in doctree.findall(is_translatable):  # type: Element
         if isinstance(node, addnodes.translatable):
             for msg in node.extract_original_messages():
                 yield node, msg
@@ -323,7 +323,8 @@ def get_prev_node(node: Node) -> Optional[Node]:
 
 def traverse_translatable_index(doctree: Element) -> Iterable[Tuple[Element, List["IndexEntry"]]]:  # NOQA
     """Traverse translatable index node from a document tree."""
-    for node in doctree.traverse(NodeMatcher(addnodes.index, inline=False)):  # type: addnodes.index  # NOQA
+    matcher = NodeMatcher(addnodes.index, inline=False)
+    for node in doctree.findall(matcher):  # type: addnodes.index
         if 'raw_entries' in node:
             entries = node['raw_entries']
         else:
@@ -353,9 +354,9 @@ def nested_parse_with_titles(state: Any, content: StringList, node: Node) -> str
 def clean_astext(node: Element) -> str:
     """Like node.astext(), but ignore images."""
     node = node.deepcopy()
-    for img in node.traverse(nodes.image):
+    for img in node.findall(nodes.image):
         img['alt'] = ''
-    for raw in list(node.traverse(nodes.raw)):
+    for raw in list(node.findall(nodes.raw)):
         raw.parent.remove(raw)
     return node.astext()
 
@@ -420,7 +421,7 @@ def inline_all_toctrees(builder: "Builder", docnameset: Set[str], docname: str,
     Record all docnames in *docnameset*, and output docnames with *colorfunc*.
     """
     tree = cast(nodes.document, tree.deepcopy())
-    for toctreenode in list(tree.traverse(addnodes.toctree)):
+    for toctreenode in list(tree.findall(addnodes.toctree)):
         newnodes = []
         includefiles = map(str, toctreenode['includefiles'])
         for includefile in includefiles:
@@ -438,7 +439,7 @@ def inline_all_toctrees(builder: "Builder", docnameset: Set[str], docname: str,
                 else:
                     sof = addnodes.start_of_file(docname=includefile)
                     sof.children = subtree.children
-                    for sectionnode in sof.traverse(nodes.section):
+                    for sectionnode in sof.findall(nodes.section):
                         if 'docname' not in sectionnode:
                             sectionnode['docname'] = includefile
                     newnodes.append(sof)
@@ -615,7 +616,7 @@ def is_smartquotable(node: Node) -> bool:
 
 def process_only_nodes(document: Node, tags: "Tags") -> None:
     """Filter ``only`` nodes which do not match *tags*."""
-    for node in document.traverse(addnodes.only):
+    for node in document.findall(addnodes.only):
         try:
             ret = tags.eval_condition(node['expr'])
         except Exception as err:
diff --git a/sphinx/versioning.py b/sphinx/versioning.py
index c007dd7b407..1a615101df9 100644
--- a/sphinx/versioning.py
+++ b/sphinx/versioning.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def add_uids(doctree: Node, condition: Any) -> Iterator[Node]:
     :param condition:
         A callable which returns either ``True`` or ``False`` for a given node.
     """
-    for node in doctree.traverse(condition):
+    for node in doctree.findall(condition):
         node.uid = uuid4().hex
         yield node
 
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ def merge_doctrees(old: Node, new: Node, condition: Any) -> Iterator[Node]:
     :param condition:
         A callable which returns either ``True`` or ``False`` for a given node.
     """
-    old_iter = old.traverse(condition)
-    new_iter = new.traverse(condition)
+    old_iter = old.findall(condition)
+    new_iter = new.findall(condition)
     old_nodes = []
     new_nodes = []
     ratios = {}
diff --git a/sphinx/writers/latex.py b/sphinx/writers/latex.py
index 8cb4453ad79..ef19c803648 100644
--- a/sphinx/writers/latex.py
+++ b/sphinx/writers/latex.py
@@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ def visit_title(self, node: Element) -> None:
                 raise nodes.SkipNode
             else:
                 short = ''
-                if list(node.traverse(nodes.image)):
+                if any(node.findall(nodes.image)):
                     short = ('[%s]' % self.escape(' '.join(clean_astext(node).split())))
 
                 try:
@@ -1009,7 +1009,7 @@ def visit_entry(self, node: Element) -> None:
             context = (r'\par' + CR + r'\vskip-\baselineskip'
                        r'\vbox{\hbox{\strut}}\end{varwidth}%' + CR + context)
             self.needs_linetrimming = 1
-        if len(list(node.traverse(nodes.paragraph))) >= 2:
+        if len(list(node.findall(nodes.paragraph))) >= 2:
             self.table.has_oldproblematic = True
         if isinstance(node.parent.parent, nodes.thead) or (cell.col in self.table.stubs):
             if len(node) == 1 and isinstance(node[0], nodes.paragraph) and node.astext() == '':
diff --git a/sphinx/writers/manpage.py b/sphinx/writers/manpage.py
index 4417274878c..0344d82e9fc 100644
--- a/sphinx/writers/manpage.py
+++ b/sphinx/writers/manpage.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def __init__(self, document: nodes.document) -> None:
 
     def apply(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         matcher = NodeMatcher(nodes.literal, nodes.emphasis, nodes.strong)
-        for node in list(self.document.traverse(matcher)):  # type: TextElement
+        for node in list(self.document.findall(matcher)):  # type: TextElement
             if any(matcher(subnode) for subnode in node):
                 pos = node.parent.index(node)
                 for subnode in reversed(list(node)):
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ def depart_versionmodified(self, node: Element) -> None:
 
     # overwritten -- don't make whole of term bold if it includes strong node
     def visit_term(self, node: Element) -> None:
-        if list(node.traverse(nodes.strong)):
+        if any(node.findall(nodes.strong)):
             self.body.append('\n')
         else:
             super().visit_term(node)
diff --git a/sphinx/writers/texinfo.py b/sphinx/writers/texinfo.py
index 7551136ff69..351aef2f799 100644
--- a/sphinx/writers/texinfo.py
+++ b/sphinx/writers/texinfo.py
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ def add_node_name(name: str) -> str:
         self.indices = [(add_node_name(name), content)
                         for name, content in self.indices]
         # each section is also a node
-        for section in self.document.traverse(nodes.section):
+        for section in self.document.findall(nodes.section):
             title = cast(nodes.TextElement, section.next_node(nodes.Titular))
             name = title.astext() if title else '<untitled>'
             section['node_name'] = add_node_name(name)
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ def collect_node_menus(self) -> None:
         """Collect the menu entries for each "node" section."""
         node_menus = self.node_menus
         targets: List[Element] = [self.document]
-        targets.extend(self.document.traverse(nodes.section))
+        targets.extend(self.document.findall(nodes.section))
         for node in targets:
             assert 'node_name' in node and node['node_name']
             entries = [s['node_name'] for s in find_subsections(node)]
diff --git a/sphinx/writers/text.py b/sphinx/writers/text.py
index 4027e0ec34b..2e1dd474a24 100644
--- a/sphinx/writers/text.py
+++ b/sphinx/writers/text.py
@@ -850,7 +850,7 @@ def depart_list_item(self, node: Element) -> None:
             self.end_state(first='%s. ' % self.list_counter[-1])
 
     def visit_definition_list_item(self, node: Element) -> None:
-        self._classifier_count_in_li = len(list(node.traverse(nodes.classifier)))
+        self._classifier_count_in_li = len(list(node.findall(nodes.classifier)))
 
     def depart_definition_list_item(self, node: Element) -> None:
         pass
diff --git a/tests/test_directive_code.py b/tests/test_directive_code.py
index 9626e73cb40..d8244db6a09 100644
--- a/tests/test_directive_code.py
+++ b/tests/test_directive_code.py
@@ -553,7 +553,7 @@ def test_literalinclude_pydecorators(app, status, warning):
 def test_code_block_highlighted(app, status, warning):
     app.builder.build(['highlight'])
     doctree = app.env.get_doctree('highlight')
-    codeblocks = list(doctree.traverse(nodes.literal_block))
+    codeblocks = list(doctree.findall(nodes.literal_block))
 
     assert codeblocks[0]['language'] == 'default'
     assert codeblocks[1]['language'] == 'python2'
diff --git a/tests/test_domain_js.py b/tests/test_domain_js.py
index 42e2c972766..b109fe4d81e 100644
--- a/tests/test_domain_js.py
+++ b/tests/test_domain_js.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def assert_refnode(node, mod_name, prefix, target, reftype=None,
         assert_node(node, **attributes)
 
     doctree = app.env.get_doctree('roles')
-    refnodes = list(doctree.traverse(addnodes.pending_xref))
+    refnodes = list(doctree.findall(addnodes.pending_xref))
     assert_refnode(refnodes[0], None, None, 'TopLevel', 'class')
     assert_refnode(refnodes[1], None, None, 'top_level', 'func')
     assert_refnode(refnodes[2], None, 'NestedParentA', 'child_1', 'func')
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def assert_refnode(node, mod_name, prefix, target, reftype=None,
     assert len(refnodes) == 13
 
     doctree = app.env.get_doctree('module')
-    refnodes = list(doctree.traverse(addnodes.pending_xref))
+    refnodes = list(doctree.findall(addnodes.pending_xref))
     assert_refnode(refnodes[0], 'module_a.submodule', None, 'ModTopLevel',
                    'class')
     assert_refnode(refnodes[1], 'module_a.submodule', 'ModTopLevel',
diff --git a/tests/test_domain_std.py b/tests/test_domain_std.py
index 18c1766aac5..14c2bd3e288 100644
--- a/tests/test_domain_std.py
+++ b/tests/test_domain_std.py
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ def test_productionlist2(app):
             "   A: `:A` `A`\n"
             "   B: `P1:B` `~P1:B`\n")
     doctree = restructuredtext.parse(app, text)
-    refnodes = list(doctree.traverse(pending_xref))
+    refnodes = list(doctree.findall(pending_xref))
     assert_node(refnodes[0], pending_xref, reftarget="A")
     assert_node(refnodes[1], pending_xref, reftarget="P2:A")
     assert_node(refnodes[2], pending_xref, reftarget="P1:B")
diff --git a/tests/test_ext_doctest.py b/tests/test_ext_doctest.py
index b79b2899cee..3a527acb2b7 100644
--- a/tests/test_ext_doctest.py
+++ b/tests/test_ext_doctest.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def test_build(app, status, warning):
 def test_highlight_language_default(app, status, warning):
     app.build()
     doctree = app.env.get_doctree('doctest')
-    for node in doctree.traverse(nodes.literal_block):
+    for node in doctree.findall(nodes.literal_block):
         assert node['language'] in ('python3', 'pycon3', 'none')
 
 
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def test_highlight_language_default(app, status, warning):
 def test_highlight_language_python2(app, status, warning):
     app.build()
     doctree = app.env.get_doctree('doctest')
-    for node in doctree.traverse(nodes.literal_block):
+    for node in doctree.findall(nodes.literal_block):
         assert node['language'] in ('python', 'pycon', 'none')